Traffic along the Medan Merdeka Timur as well as Medan Merdeka Utara and Medan Merdeka Barat streets, which were closed during the huge demonstration called by various Islamic organizations on Friday, has been flowing smoothly.
Many regulars visited the square to exercise, go for jogging or cycling as per their daily regimen.
Some people sporting white robes and caps were still seen at Jakartas biggest mosque, the Istiqlal Mosque near Monas, in the morning but there were no large crowds.
The Veterans Street leading to Medan Merdeka Utara was opened to the people although the barbed wire barricades were still in place.
Merdeka Barat, right in front of the Merdeka Palace, was blocked by barbed wires and barricades during the demonstration held to protest the allegedly blasphemous statement made by Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok, as he is also called.
The demonstration went off peacefully but some rioting flared up after the evening prayers. It happened after the deadline for the protests to end had passed.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has expressed his regret over the clash which happened after the crowds, that had gathered in front of the Merdeka Palace on Friday, had started to disperse at around 7:00 pm local time.
"We deplore the incident that happened after the Isha (evening prayers). These crowds should have been dispersed but turned violent and the situation was exploited by certain political actors," Jokowi pointed out at a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta early Saturday.
Police noted on Saturday that a decision to take any legal action against Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama in connection with the allegedly blasphemous remarks he made recently, will be determined within the next two weeks.
"Within the next two weeks, the legal status in the reported case (against Basuki) will be clear. Before that, it is imperative to gather complete information from witnesses and experts," the head of public relations division of the Indonesian Police, Inspector General Boy Rafli Amar, disclosed at a press conference.
(Reported by Desi Purnamawati/Uu.H-YH/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
